I'm sorry you're feeling burnt-out, Dr. Schwab. I want you to know that your blog and book have really helped me understand the surgical and medical culture during a difficult time. My son fell off a 65 ft. bluff, landing on a pipe between his legs. Then he eventually landed on a rat, killing it. My son is doing very well now, but it's been a long year. Thank you for being here in cyberspace for me, a sympathetic medical voice. By the way, I'm a recovered attorney--I teach kindergarten now. I've turned from the dark side (-:

Is this a tribute to your passed friend? Or a statement about yourself? Hang in there for the contagion of cherry blossoms and sunny days. You have a brilliant mind, otherwise it wouldn't be so darned hard.

Dr. Schwab,Since you said that Sunday was now reserved for political posts, I had assumed you meant that you feel that the flame has gone out on the Obama campaign and momentum. And I feel that you feel bad about that, like I do. Maybe it really was too good to be true that one man could give people such hope and inspiration.

Just as we can all read something different into the candle you posted, I can read many different reasons why I just felt a connection with your blog and added you to my rss feed. It all boils down to... I like reading it.

About Me

I'm a mostly retired general surgeon. With my surgical blog, my intention is to inform, entertain, and possibly educate the reader about surgery, and about the life and loves of a surgeon: this one, anyway. Don't know what I'm thinking, doing a political blog, too.
In an amazing coincidence, I've also written a book, "Cutting Remarks; Insights and Recollections of a Surgeon." It's about my surgical training in San Francisco in the 1970s, aimed at the lay reader with the goal of entertaining with good stories, informing with understandable details of surgical anatomy, procedures, and diseases. Knowing you, I bet you'd enjoy it. In fact, if you like Surgeonsblog, you'll absolutely love the book!

Boring, Unoriginal, but Important Disclaimer:

What I say here is as true as I can make it, based on my experience as a surgeon. Still, in no way is it intended as specific medical advice for any condition. For that, you need to consult your own doctors, who actually know you. I hope you'll find things of interest and amusement here; maybe useful information. But please, please, PLEASE understand: this blog ought not be used in any way to provide the reader with ideas about diagnosis or treatment of any symptoms or disease. Also, as you'd expect, when I describe patients, I've changed many personal details: age, sex, occupation -- enough to make them into no one you might actually know. Thanks, and enjoy the blog.